In the 1700s, people who cursed in public had to appear in court and were fined 10 shillings.

More than 350 people saw such ruling re-enactment Monday during the dedication of the Douglass-Clark House near the Gallatin-Hendersonville line. The home's near $1 million restoration was completed in June with plans to open the home as a visitors and interpretive center in early 2015.

The project took off in January 2007 when late Sumner County Executive R.J. "Hank" Thompson accepted, on behalf of the county, the donation of eight acres of land from a subdivision developer with an agreement that the historic building onsite would be preserved. Studies determined the structure's true historical value and set restoration gears in motion.

"With the completion of this project, now current and future generations can participate in Sumner County's history by visiting the Douglass-Clark House," Sumner County Executive Anthony Holt said while dressed in a period attire. "It's so important as we continue to grow into the future that we preserve our past because once it's gone, you can only look at photographs but you can never rebuild it."

Built in the late 1700s, the log dwelling served as one of Sumner's first courthouses that last held sessions in 1790, when the county and Tennessee were still part of North Carolina. On Monday, the public experienced the home's legacy for the first time in 224 years.

Descendants recognized

Guests saw three men appear in the court re-enactment for using profanity. Another man pleaded guilty for stealing a pair of leather leggings and was fined 5 shillings. Just before the court concluded for the day, future U.S. President Andrew Jackson asked to practice law in the county and took his oath to do so.

Guests applaud after the Sumner County Commission met at the Douglass-Clark House for the first time in 224 years.
(Photo:
Dessislava Yankova / staff
)

Re-enactors then switched spots with real-time Sumner County commissioners — some dressed in period clothing — who held their meeting onsite. Eighteen century-dressed militia men fired a volley at the beginning and end of the event, during which descendants from the Douglass and Clark families were recognized. The house was dedicated to the Douglass and Clark families, whose long residency in the home helped "shape the history of our county," said Holt.

The house joined the National and Tennessee Registers of Historic Places in 2011 for local significance related to exploration, settlement and government as well as maintaining a high degree of integrity and historical character.

The site will also serve as the trailhead to the Station Camp Greenway, work on which continues.

Contact Dessislava Yankova at 575-7170. Follow her on Twitter @desspor.